Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 9: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released the figures of the 5th cycle of India’s Tiger Census revealing that tiger numbers in the wild have increased by 200 in the country to 3,167 in the last four years.
According to the data released by Modi, the tiger population stood at 1,411 in 2006, 1,706 in 2010, 2,226 in 2014, 2,967 in 2018 and 3,167 in 2022.
Modi released the ‘Summary Report of Tiger Reserve in India’ at the session of commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger at Mysuru University, in Mysuru. At the inaugural session of the commemoration of 50 years of ‘Project Tiger’, the Prime Minister also launched the ‘International Big Cat Alliance’ (IBCA) and released a booklet ‘Amrit Kaal Ka Tiger Vision’, presenting the vision for tiger conservation in the next 25 years.
India launched the IBCA with a view to bringing focus on protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar and Cheetah — with membership of the range countries harbouring these species.
India launched ‘Project Tiger’ on April 1, 1973, to promote tiger conservation. Initially, it covered nine tiger reserves spread over 18,278 sq km. At present, there are 53 tiger reserves spanning more than 75,000 square kilometres (approximately 2.4% of the country’s geographical area).
The Prime Minister said protection of wildlife was a universal issue, adding that IBCA was India’s endeavour for the protection and conservation of big cats. “Cheetahs had become extinct in India decades ago. We brought this magnificent big cats to India from Namibia and South Africa. This is the first successful transcontinental translocation of the big cat,” Modi said.
For wildlife to thrive, it is important for ecosystems to thrive, Modi said adding that this has been happening in India. “India is a country where protecting nature is part of culture… We do not believe in conflict between ecology and economy, but give importance to coexistence between the two,” he noted. In July 2019, the Prime Minister had called for an ‘Alliance of Global Leaders’ to “obliterate demand” and firmly curb poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Asia.
Before launching the conference, the Prime Minister spent the morning at the picturesque Bandipur Tiger Reserve as well as the Theppakadu Elephant camp in the Mudumalai tiger Reserve. At the Tiger Reserve where he went on a jeep safari and got a glimpse of the wildlife, natural beauty and biodiversity.
Modi, dressed in a safari clothing and hat, reportedly covered about 20-km distance in the open jeep during the safari at the Tiger Reserve. He interacted with frontline field staff and groups involved in conservation activities later.
Bandipur has had a long tryst with tigers. One of the 30 reserves identified across the country to save the Tiger and its habitat, it’s also one of the last refuges of the endangered Asiatic wild elephant, according to the state Tourism department. The reserve was brought under ‘Project Tiger’ in 1973.
The Prime Minister posted his safari pictures on his Twitter account. He also shared pictures of elephants, langurs, deers and baisons. “Spent the morning at the scenic Bandipur Tiger Reserve and got a glimpse of India’s wildlife, natural beauty and diversity”, he said.
After Bandipur, Modi visited the Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Tamil Nadu, where the Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ was shot. Modi also met Raghu, the orphaned elephant featured in the documentary.
Later addressing the gathering in Mysuru, Modi said, “It has been 50 years of Project Tiger. The success of Project Tiger has been an achievement not only for India, but for the entire world. India has not only saved the tiger, but has given it a great ecosystem in which to flourish.
“It is a matter of great happiness for us that at a time when we have completed 75 years of Independence, that nearly 75 per cent of the world’s tiger population can now be found in India and tiger reserves in the country span 75,000 square kilometres. This has been possible because of everyone’s efforts,” he said, addressing the international conference.
“Why is it that while in other parts of the world, as the tiger population remains stable or declines, it is actually increasing in India? Because the connection with biodiversity and environment is woven into our traditions and our culture,” he added. Modi pointed out that ties with the tiger have existed for thousands of years, and 10,000-year-old-paintings in this regard have been found in the caves of Madhya Pradesh. He further pointed to the intimate relationships between tribal communities in the country and tigers and that many communities worship the big cat in India.
The Prime Minister further mentioned that the population of lions, leopards, elephants and single-horned rhinos has also increased with India having the largest number of Asiatic elephants and single-horned rhinos in the world besides being the only country where the Asiatic lion is found.
“With only 2.4 per cent of global land area, India contributes to 8 per cent of wildlife diversity. India is the largest tiger range country in the world. With nearly 30,000 elephants, we are the largest Asiatic Elephant range in the world,” he said, noting that the population of single horned rhinoceros was also the highest.
He pointed out that due to various conservation efforts, the population of Asiatic lions has also grown from 525 in 2015 to 675 in 2020, whereas the population of leopards has increased 60 per cent in just four years. The National Mission for Clean Ganga has helped revive the population of some endangered aquatic species also. “This is due to people’s participation (in conservation) and the culture of preservation,” Modi said.
Modi further said in India there was no conflict between “ecology and economy” and that it was imperative that an emotional and economic bond between human communities and wildlife be established to ensure that conservation was a success. “Wildlife protection is not the responsibility of one country but the entire world – and this is why an international alliance is so important,’’ said the Prime Minister, adding that the international conference would ensure an exchange of best practices as well as financial and technical resources. “There will be an emphasis on research, training and capacity building,’’ he added.
Due to awareness programmes, man-animal conflict has reduced around tiger reserves while helping local economies. “This has had a positive influence on the life of people and ecology,” he said. Noting the Union government initiative to introduce cheetahs – which has gone extinct in India – Modi hailed it to be the “first trans-continental translocation” due to which four cheetah cubs were born recently on Indian soil.